For recuperating patients, certain scenes are synonymous with the recovery process. Consider these snapshots: x-rays and exercises, flexes and reps — but have you ever wondered what goes on behind the curtains?
Physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs) are invaluable healthcare providers and patient advocates, but their supporting crew, occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) are often unsung heroes. While these two specialties are distinct in focus, both PTAs and OTAs play crucial roles in helping people regain independence, feel their best, and improve their quality of life.
If you’re considering a career in rehabilitation and find yourself torn between a PTA and OTA career, we’re here to lend a hand! Prepare to explore each possibility — working out the differences between these two fulfilling healthcare fields.
Picture life as a PTA
With a strong foundation in anatomy and the science of movement, PTAs work under the supervision of physical therapists — helping patients improve their physical functioning and quality of life in the wake of an illness or injury. PTAs address these needs by helping recuperating individuals restore or enhance movement, balance, coordination, and strength.
On a day-to-day basis, a PTA’s duties typically include:
- Aiding in sports rehabilitation: Many PTAs work with athletes recovering from injuries, helping them regain strength, flexibility, and the specific skills needed to return to their sport safely.
- Educating patients on pain management techniques: PTAs teach patients exercises and strategies to manage pain effectively, promoting faster recovery and improved function while reducing the need for prescription pain medications.
- Guiding patients through exercises: PTAs help patients perform exercises designed to strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and restore range of motion. These restorative exercises can range from therapeutic stretches to using specialized equipment.
How do I know if PTA is the career path for me?
If you’re passionate about the mechanics of movement, and anatomy piques your interest, becoming a PTA may be the perfect path to pursue! Beyond having a working foundation in science, patience and communication are critical to success as a PTA, as these qualities lend to superb patient care. PTAs also must have a knack for clearly and compassionately instructing their patients — making them accessible, trustworthy, and empathetic professionals.
All about OTAs
Whether it’s an accident, illness, or surgery, recovering from physical trauma can present challenges in day-to-day life — making tasks we often take for granted difficult to achieve. Stepping in to help restore ease and autonomy, OTAs work alongside occupational therapists to empower individuals to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) – the essential tasks that make up your day, from bathing and grooming to cooking and managing medications.
OTAs help patients embrace autonomy by focusing on:
- Fostering skills and strategies for independent living: OTAs help patients adapt tasks and working or living environments to increase individuals’ day-to-day functioning. For example, an OTA might teach someone who experienced a stroke how to use adaptive utensils or suggest modifications to their home bathroom to improve accessibility and promote autonomy.
- Promoting cognitive skills: OTAs can work with patients experiencing memory problems or difficulty concentrating by developing strategies for daily tasks to improve overall cognitive function.
- Supporting children’s development: Pediatric OTAs help children with developmental delays or disabilities reach their full potential by working on motor skills, sensory processing, and play skills.
How do I know if OTA is the career path for me?
Curious as to whether you’d excel as an OTA? If you’re a patient problem-solver whose passion is helping others lead their best lives, becoming an OTA can help you find professional fulfillment. An OTA’s role is all about helping people find ways to live their lives to the fullest, so a genuine desire to empower others is indispensable to success in the field.
– Julie Husted
Ready to chart your course to a rewarding career in healing and empowering others? Download your free OTA Get Started Guide today and learn more about embarking on the next chapter of your professional journey!
Two paths to professional success
Just as OTAs and PTAs have similar yet distinct duties, the education necessary to achieve each career is alike but different. Likewise, the opportunities at the end of each professional path offer unique options for your future.
PTAs vs. OTAs — Educational requirements
So, how does the process of pursuing these two career paths differ?
While aspiring OTAs and PTAs have similar degree timelines and overlapping areas of focus, accreditation and licensing requirements vary. Let’s take some time to untangle the distinctions between these expectations:
PTAs vs. OTAs — Career outlooks
Because PTAs and OTAs have distinct educational backgrounds and certifications, their professional opportunities and earning potential can vary.
If you still find yourself torn between these two occupations, it’s essential to identify their respective career outcomes. Let’s explore the fundamental similarities and differences for professionals in these fields:
PTAs and OTAs — Professional development and continuing education
Whether you choose to help patients heal as a PTA or empower individuals as an OTA, your career will never feel stagnant. Both caregiving paths provide rewarding options to grow and foster your professional identity.
Advanced roles in these two fields include:
- Academic/higher education instructor
- Clinical educator or mentor
- Consultant
- Private practice
- Rehabilitation manager or coordinator
- Senior supervisor
- And more!
In addition to enjoying advanced opportunities, PTAs and OTAs can choose to continue their studies by specializing in a specific area of practice — positioning them as sought-after leaders in their fields.
Your journey to career satisfaction starts here
Although PTAs and OTAs may appear similar, these professionals each take a unique approach to promoting patient wellness.
Despite PTAs and OTAs each completing supervised fieldwork and licensing exams, the educational focus and training processes are distinct. While PTAs help patients recover from illnesses and injuries to restore and increase mobility, OTAs help recuperating people develop safe strategies for performing day-to-day tasks — promoting independence and dignity while enhancing their overall quality of life.
– Tatyana Vega
At Goodwin University, our OTA associate degree program will prepare you to make meaningful impact as an occupational therapy assistant. With flexible scheduling, hands-on fieldwork, and expert instruction, you’ll develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary to excel as an OTA — helping members of your community lead their lives to the fullest.
We’re ready when you are. Learn more about our OTA program today and jumpstart your journey to a rewarding career making a difference for others. Call 800-889-3282 or text 860-467-1511.
Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.